Vented face shield for welders



Oct. 20, 1953 w. c. Mo|-:l.| ER 2,655,656

VENTED FACE SHIELD FOR WELDERS Fi-led Feb. 18, 1952 l ,l cf,

` 0 f INVENTOR. W//dm /Wae//ef BY l 41e Afro/e Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENTED FACE SHIELD FOR WELDERS William C. Moeller, Kansas City,-Mo., assignor. to Parmelee Plastics Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application February 18, 1952, Serial N o. 272,148

(o1. -z-s) Claims.

This invention relates to face protectors, particularly those commonly employed by Welders, and has for its primary object the provision of structure in the nature of a transparent shield, together with means for Ventilating the shield thereby preventing steaming and obstruction of vlew.

Another important vobject hereof is to provide a ventilated shield for Welders and the like capable of protecting the face and including means in the nature of a foraminous panel secured directly to the shield to prevent flying objects from striking the face of the wearer by virtue of the means employed herein for ventilating the shield.

A still further object hereof is to provide a ventilated shield having the aforesaid screen or screen-like protecting means, together with a plurality of louvers in overlying relationship to openings in the shield for rendering the entire device steamproof, and at the same time avoid direct entrance of dust and other material to the nose and mouth of the wearer, as well as dying objects that might otherwise strike and injure the face of the wearer by gaining entrance through the vent openings.

A further object of this invention relates to the way in which the entire assembly above mentioned for Ventilating the shield and protecting the face of the wearer is so disposed as to maintain full View and clear vision for the user.

This is a continuation-impart of my co-pending application, Serial No. 701,637, filed October 7, 1946, now Patent Serial No. 2,594,335 and entitled Hinged Structure.

ln the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective View of a vented face shield for Welders made pursuant to my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View thereof showing the same as worn by a Welder, the shield being in section; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, crosssectional View taken on line III-III of Fig. l.

As shown and described in my aforementioned copending application, the protector hereof, commonly employed by Welders, includes an elongated, longitudinally arcuate, substantially semicylindrical, transparent shield broadly designated by the numeral I0. Shield I0 is adjustably secured to an adjustable headband I2 through means of hinge structure I4 as fully described and covered by allowed claims in my co-pending application and the same need not be further described herein.

An adjustable headstrap I6, together with a forehead band I8, are also included as a means for mounting the protector in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2 and to assure comfort on the part of the wearer. As might be expected when shields l0 of the character illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, are placed in use in covering relationship to the face of the wearer, the same oftentimes become steamed as the user breathes upon the innermost face thereof, obstructing view and thereby creating a possible dangerous situation. It is necessary therefore, to provide a plurality of vent openings 20 in a portion 22 of the shield l0.

Portion 22 constitutes only that part of the shield l0 aligned with the nose and mouth of the wearer, but does not include that part of the shield I0 below the uppermost longitudinal edge thereof in alignment with the eyes of the wearer. Likewise, a substantial portion of the shield I0 extending rearwardly into covering relationship to the cheeks, ears and neck of the wearer, is devoid of openings 20. The openings 20 are preferably created by stamping a plurality of louvers 24 therefrom and bending the louvers 24 outwardly so that the same incline downwardly and outwardly from the outermost face of the shield I 0 as is shown most clearly in Fig. 8 of the drawing. Accordingly, the louvers 24 and the openings 20 have the same semi-circular configuration and are of substantially the same size. The louvers 24 integral with the shield l0, overlie each corresponding opening 20 and are preferably staggered as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

This construction provides adequate ventilation to avoid the steaming of the innermost face of shield I 0, and the louvers 24 tend to deiiect dust and dirt and many ying objects, keeping the same from contact with the face of the user through openings 20. It has been found however, that notwithstanding the louvers 24, many flying objects still enter the vent openings 20, irritating the face of the Welder and oftentimes causing substantial and painful injury. There is therefore, provided means to cooperate with the louvers 24 in avoiding such hazard, Itaking the form of a foraminous panel 26 having substantially the same size and shape as the portion 22 of the shield I 0 and disposed on the innermost face of the shield l0 in covering relationship to all of the openings 20.

The foraminous panel 25 may be made from any suitable material such as wire screen and should be afxed directly and rigidly to the innermost face of the shield l0 as by use of a plulittle obstruction to full view of his work. The

foraminous panel 26 has no: adverseeitect upon.

the free ventilation of the shield- .l andA quately deects flying particles that might otherwise pass through the openings 2li4 and cause great injury to the Welder.

A further advantage of utilizing a panel such as at 26 to accomplish the desired results hereof vlies in the. fact that the same is sufficiently exible to conform; to the contour ofV the shield I0 and will .inrn'rother'way.r detract from.' the normal functions. of such protecting shield..

Having thus described theinventicn what claimed as new anddesiredito. be; secured by Letters Patentisz' l. In a face protector, the combination of yan elongated, longitudinally arcuate shield of transparent material having a plurality' of vent: openings therein; a foraminous panel mounted on the normally innermost face of the shl'el'd cover'- ing said openings; and an outwardly and downwardly extending deflectinglouver'zlor'each opening respectively on the normally outermost face of the shield.

2. In a face protector, theJcOmbinatiOn of an elongated, longitudinally arcuate shield of transparent material having a' plurality of vent open* ings therein; an outwardly and downwardly extending deflecting louver for each opening respectively of the normally outermost face of the shield; and a foraminous panel mounted on the normally innermost face of the shield covering said openings, said shield having a normally uppermost, longitudinal edge, said panel being spaced from said edge, presenting an unobstructed shield pertinninalignment with the eyescdl a user when the protector is worn on' the head of said user.

3. In a face protector, the combination of a substantially semi-cylindrical, transparent shield having a. portinnnormally aligned with the nose and mouth of a wearer; a plurality of outwardly ancl;.downwardly extending louvers on the noroutermost face of said shield, integral with the shield and disposed solely within said portiorrthereof, presenting a vent opening in said portion of the shield beneath each louver respectively, corresponding in shape and size therewith; and a screen secured to said portion only of the shield on the normally innermost .face thereof in. covering relationship tofsaid openings.

4. Ina face protectoras set forth. in claim 3, Whereinsaid. louvers are semi-circular. arl-:i have their' curved edges extending outwardly and downwardly from the shield.k

5. In a face protector as set forth in claim. 3. wherein there is provided a smooth, transparent facing covering. the peripheral` and marginal edges of the screen.

WILLIAM C. MOELLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 860,322 Paroubelcv July 16,. 1907 1,184,785 Stern May 30;. 1916 2,067,026 Schwartz. Jan. 5, i937 

